Hello! This is my first post here. I just received my Sonbaty Plus Darabouka and I'm barely learning how to play. However, yesterday I tried to change the head of the darabouka, but I found two number underneath the rim, the video I saw showed one number only to match in order to seal it right. Also, the head/rim of my darabouka feels a bit higher on one side more than the other, is that normal? Thank you so much.

Hi, I guess those numbers are marks that you can mount the ring (rim) with same orientation, you removed it. Darbuka drumhead is built preciously, so I would recommend to be careful with all screws - and put every screw back into same hole after unscrewing for changing head.

1. Note, there is a gap between rim and body. Mounting new head first take care to level this gap all around the drum by screwing in all pairs of opposite screws without tension. When thing is coming to force and the head isn't levelled that direction, unscrew the opposite one! - After the head is levelled all screws are in a point you need force up to screw it further.

2. Now start screwing screw by screw but only one turn each, continue clockwise around the rim. Don't forget which screw was first one and do it until whole cycle is finished several times. Look wether head stays levelled under tension. Stop then and let the new skin stretch for some hours.

3. Before continuing look around head correcting the level by unscrewing one of opposites when needed. Then continue like step 2. Don't hurry! Stretching new skin may last one, two or three days depending of skin type or fabricate. Stretching procedure ends at least, when skin surface and rim are on the same level.Let the drum rest another day before tuning skin.

4. Loosen fresh stretched skin before tuning. Unscrew screws same way like in step 2. Strike "Dum" for test after each cycle. Stop unscrewing when sound becomes weak. Start only now to tune the drum head.

5. Tuning drumhead is by screwing all opposite pairs slightly. You may do 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 , 1/6 up to 1/12 turns regarding orientation of each screwhead - same step with all screws every time. After each cycle proof the "Dum" sound until it is fully strong with a long delay as possible. After you found that, continue with fine tuning until the "Tekka" comes sound enough. When the "Dum" stays strong now, it might be the lucky end. If you lost it, you need to loosen the skin again, until you find a good compromise for "Dum" and "Tek" sounds that may fit your wishes.

6. Synthetic skin stretches all life time. So it needs to do step 5. time by time again for service and best sounds.